Those comments were immediately slammed by the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee, which e-mailed its 3.4 million supporters declaring, "John McCain thinks smears and lies are funny."

"Despite pledging to run a respectful campaign, McCain is just standing by while Corsi and his publisher, former Dick Cheney aide Mary Matalin, poison this presidential race," read the e-mail from DNC Rapid Response Team.

But McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said later Thursday the Arizona senator actually did not hear the question, and would not be commenting on the book.

The book, which is expected to debut No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, repeats many long-discredited falsehoods about the Illinois senator, including the claim that he is Muslim.

Corsi, who has said he's on a “mission” to take down Obama, also co-wrote "Unfit for Command" - the 2004 book that spawned the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

soundoff(1,035 Responses)

I believe that the book "Unfit for Command" was actually targeting John Kerry and not John McCain.

August 15, 2008 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |

EC

HA! HA! This man can't HEAR now? These are true signs of senility. Sen. McCain doesn't have the "sharp" intelligence nor is he political savvy. He's as exciting as a rusted nail. BORING!!

August 15, 2008 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |

Monica for Obama in Indiana

Heh, what did you say? Just like your vision, becomes tunnel vision, so does your hearing.

mccain, isn't listening. Who is running his camp?

August 15, 2008 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |

Winston

I pray to God that America doesnt get led like sheep to slaughter by the vicious negative campaign of John McCain and his cronies. This same methology was employed during Bush's campaigns and we see what that brought us.

August 15, 2008 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |

David Goldman for OBAMA

MCBUSH WOULD SELL HIS SOUL,

IF HE HAD ONE TO SELL,TO HAVE THAT

SHAKY OLD SLIMY FINGER ON THAT RED BITTEN.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

Lucy

McSame has a distorted sense of humor...for at least a couple of weeks now.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

freedom first

Obama needs to lose.

Lesson: don't thug, cheat and threaten you way into the nomination. Let people vote. Count all the votes. Play fair. Don't trash and insult fellow democrats.

Mess with democracy and LOSE.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

Bea in Virginia

So that's McSame's latest excuse? He's too DEAF to actually hear the question, so he just makes something up? Excellent!

McCain = President Abe Simpson

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

Chip

The guy is a disgrace. Just like his response to the Paris Hilton reference. "Gotta keep your sense of humor". Sorry, but humor is used to put people down all the time. (Ask John Stewart) He's acting like that wasn't the very specific purpose - to degrade Obama and make him look like a "vapid celebrity". Of course it was.

Now he's stooping to the swiftboat level. I pray this entire charade backfires on him bigtime. Hoping our voters are smarter this time.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

James in Ohio

It's not McCain's job to defend Obama. If Obama can't stand up for himself, he clearly isn't strong enough of character to lead the USA.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

John McClelland

Typo:

Corsi, who has said he's on a “mission” to take down Obama, also co-wrote "Unfit for Command" — the 2004 book that spawned the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John McCain.

Should be John Kerry.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

Jesse

Might want to have somebody copy edit your posts before putting them up ;) re-read the last line

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

Ari

When I became a citizen I registered as a Republican
because I admired a senator called John McCain.

Sadly he is not around anymore.
I am going to become an independent.

August 15, 2008 05:01 pm at 5:01 pm |

Lima

McCain has this lingering problem with his hearing. He always seems to blame his hearing whenever his campaign advises him to change a statement that he has already made.

The question is "Who will answer the phone at 3:00 AM if the man is tone deaf??" Now that is funny ;0)

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

McCain=the draft

Bull Crap, McCain heard the question! McCain's being exposed little by little and it's showing he doesn't have an honest bone in his body!

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Obama supporter in New Jersey

oh yeah...the old guy has to tune up his hearing aid. Just remember who brought up the 'age' issue. The book is Number 1 because the goofball that wrote it purchased it in bulk to distribute it to the rest of the goofballs.

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

denise miura

The article should end with "John Kerry" not "John McCain" I believe...

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Republican for Obama

So instead of saying "what was the question again?" McCain chooses to respond to something he didn't even hear. Sign me up to put this guy in the negotiating room with our enemies. I can hear it now...

North Korea: "Do you relinquish your rights as a nuclear power and agree to send all your weapons to us?"

McCain: "Umm, sure."

Either he is incompetent or a liar on this topic. My choice is liar.

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

paulie_nj

Itchy boo boo Obama. If you can't take the heat then get out of the kitchen. Besides, if the info in the book is all so untrue then you should just ignore it and not let it bother you. The more you try to defend it, the more people will think that there is some truth to it.

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Lucy

McBush should denounce this book and it's author NOW.

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Anonymous

McCain is so full of it. I hope he doesn't have that problem when he is being briefed on a military issue. Sheesh

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

DonnieJ

McCain probably felt the urge to surge the first time he saw the book.

August 15, 2008 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Tani in CA

Yeah right! John McCain is such a pathetic liar...if he didn't hear the question then why did he respond? He's going to claim that he "misheard" it? BS!

August 15, 2008 05:03 pm at 5:03 pm |

NO bama

I do not care... just so long as Obama is not allowed to steal and cheat his way into the white house.

The campaign of vitriolic anti-Hillary hate that he encouraged, engineered and profitted from was smears and lies.

Even worse when the swiftboating is by a democrat against his fellow democrats.